Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan, bicameral Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site Act, introduced by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA). The House version, introduced by Congressmen Mike Waltz (FL-06) and Darren Soto (FL-09), passed the House of Representatives earlier this week. The bill now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

The Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site Act honors the stadium where Jackie Robinson played his first professional game and broke the color barrier in baseball. Under this legislation, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida, home of the Daytona Tortugas, would be designated as a National Commemorative Site and direct the Secretary of Interior to conduct a feasibility study to give the site the designation of National Historic Landmark. The bill is co-sponsored by the entire Florida House delegation and has the support from both Major and Minor League Baseball.

“Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach has been a landmark in the history of the Civil Rights movement and of Florida,” said Waltz. “On March 17th, 1946, Jackie Robinson changed professional baseball forever when he stepped out onto the field and broke the color barrier in the sport. His courage that day not only redefined the game but also signaled a profound step forward in the fight for civil rights in America. This bill preserves and honors Jackie Robinson’s legacy, the pivotal role he played in Daytona Beach’s history, and the lasting impact he made on America as a whole. I’m deeply thankful for Senator Rubio and Senator Warnock’s leadership on this bill in the Senate, and I call on President Biden to sign it into law.”

The full text of the bill can be found here.